Firstly, the point about the films gross value was meant to explain how you measure their success. If the films attract a lot of paying customers, they have been successful in the eyes of the filmmakers. Now yes, technically, they could be very poorly attended, lose money and still be loved by a few Tolkien fans and the critics and you COULD call that successful but.....anyway, I digress.

As for essential, as I said earlier, I see Balin's story as essential. If it's not covered, you end up with a major character who seemingly lives happily ever after at the end of the Hobbit, turning up dead somewhere else in FOTR.

For me, the White Council stuff is essential. Gandalf disppears in the Hobbit, meets up with Elrond, Galadriel, Saruman and so on, and launches an attack on Sauron. Not told in the Hobbit, and not seen in LOTR, so needs to be told.

I'd go further. I'd want an explanation of why the Dwarves turn up at Bag End in the first place. Unfortunately, I don't think we are going to be allowed to see that part of the story.

Legolas, for me, is far from essential. He MIGHT have been present when Bilbo's party passed, Tolkien doesn't say either way. Aragorn (as Estel) MIGHT have been at Rivendell when they passed, as might Arwen, but these facts tell us nothing. No story, no exposition, nothing. To me, they are unnecessary. Story pertaining to how and why the quest for Erebor came about, Sauron's story/White Council, Balin, even how Frodo came to be with Bilbo, are important, and fill in lots of detail.

To me, essential, but as I say, it's subjective, and that's just one fan's opinion. Mawr yw ein braint i berthyn i'r gwm Llynfi